A Guide to Mexican Tequilas and Mezcals
Explore the rich differences between tequila and mezcal, and how to choose the right one for your next drink.
Tequila and mezcal are the two spirits that define a Mexican cantina, and at La Sierra in Forest Grove we pour a lot of both. They come from the same plant family but they taste completely different, and knowing the difference helps you order a drink you will actually love. Here is a simple guide to both, and how to choose at our bar.
What Tequila Actually Is
Tequila is made only from blue agave, and by law it has to come from certain regions in Mexico. The heart of the agave, called the pina, is baked in ovens, which gives tequila its clean, slightly sweet, earthy flavor. Then it depends on age. Blanco is unaged and bright. Reposado rests in oak for a few months and picks up a smooth, golden character. Anejo spends a year or more in oak and becomes rich and round. You can see all of these on our tequila list.
What Mezcal Is
Mezcals can be made from many types of agave, not just blue. The pinas are roasted in underground pits over wood, which is where that signature smoky flavor comes from. Mezcal tends to be more rustic and complex, with smoke, earth and sometimes a faint sweetness. If tequila is the clean, polished spirit, mezcal is the wild cousin. Both are Mexican to the core, and both deserve respect.
How to Choose
If you want something crisp and refreshing, go with a blanco tequila in a House Margarita or a Paloma. If you want smooth and mellow, a reposado in a Cadillac Margarita is a beautiful choice. If you want to sip and think, try an anejo neat or on the rocks. If you love smoke, ask about mezcal and let your bartender suggest a pour or a cocktail built around it. The right spirit is the one you enjoy, not the one that costs the most.
Brands We Pour
We carry a deep list, from 1800 and Herradura to Patron, Don Julio, Casamigos and Clase Azul. Each brand has its own house style, and our bartenders are happy to talk through the differences. You can order a flight of sorts by trying one in a margarita and another neat. The goal is to learn what you like by tasting.
Come Sip With Us
The best way to understand tequila and mezcal is to taste them side by side. Stop by the cantina, order online for pickup, or come during happy hour from 2 PM to 5 PM. Tell us what you usually drink and we will point you somewhere new. That conversation is half the fun of a good bar.
